A method of sewing net sheets together

ABSTRACT

A machine for sewing net sheets together includes a shuttle carrier having a shuttle for jointing thread. A device is provided for pulling a loop out of the shuttle and a device is provided for threading the loop taken therefrom through the meshes of the net sheets. Still further there is provided a mechanism for expansion of the loop and a mechanism for tightening the knot formed as a result of the shuttles passing through the loop.

United States atent Inventors Manivald Maximovlch Paiulald ulltsa R00,10, kv. 6; Khugo Gustavovich Teaming, ulitsa Gakliu, 8, lav. 24, both ofTallin, U.S.S.lR. Appl No. 767,679 Filed 0st. 15, !968 Patented July 13,1971 METHOD OF SEWING NET SHEETS TOGETHER 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs,

US. Cl 289/ 1.5,

Int. Cl B6511 69/04 Field 01 Search ..289/l8, 1.2,

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,140 8/1882 Sollers 28/15UX 2,106,119 1/1938 Krasselt 28/72 2,747,246 5/1956 Oldham 289/17 XFOREIGN PATENTS 693,313 6/1953 Great Britain 87/12 PrimaryExaminer--Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & NissenABSTRACT: A machine for sewing net sheets together includes a shuttlecarrier having a shuttle for jointing thread. A device is provided forpulling a loop out of the shuttle and a device is provided for threadingthe loop taken therefrom through the meshes of the net sheets, Stillfurther there is provided a mechanism for expansion of the loop and amechanism for tightening the knot formed as a result of the shuttlespassing through the loop.

PATENTEB JUL] 3 l97l SHEET 2 0F 5 PATENTEU JUL 1 3 |97| SHEET ll 0F 5SHEET 5 OF 5 PATENTEU JUL 1 3 ml METHOD OF SEWING NET SHEETS TOGETHERThis invention relates to industrial fishing and more particularly tothe methods of manufacturing net-type fishing gear, for example. trawlsand seines Known in the art are methods of sewing together net sheetswith a nonloosening seam, using a jointing thread, according to whichthe shuttle with the wound-on thread is drawn successively through thenet meshes for the purpose of their jointing, and also for the purposeof knot formation.

These methods are suitable exclusively for manual sewing together of netsheets, when the shuttle is selected depending upon the size of the netmesh.

Therefore it is very difficult to mechanize the conventionally knownmethods of sewing together net sheets because the perimeter of the crosssection of the shuttle used to sew together the nets with different meshperimeters (from to 800 mm.) must vary in accordance with the latter.However, it is technically impracticable to mechanize the process ofsewing together the nets when a large number of shuttles with differentperimeters are used.

An object of this invention is to provide such a method of sewingtogether net sheets which will enable this process to be mechanized.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of sewing netsheets together which will render unnecessary the drawing of the shuttlethrough the net meshes.

In accordance with the above-specified and other objects of thisinvention, when effecting the method invented by us, at first a certainlength of the thread from the shuttle is pulled through the meshes ofthe net sheet in the form of a loop, after which the shuttle with thewound-on thread is drawn through said loop.

The employment of this method of sewing together net sheets renders thedrawing of the shuttle through the net meshes unnecessary.

Besides, since loops of any length can be pulled through the net meshes,according to this method the nets with meshes of different perimeterscan be sewn together using only one shuttle.

This provides for the mechanization of sewing together of the netsheets.

For the purpose of mechanization of said method of sewing together netsheets, the present invention provides a machine which comprises thefollowing operatively associated mechanisms: a shuttle carrier with ashuttle for the joining thread; a mechanism for pulling out the loopfrom said shuttle; a mechanism for threading said loop taken from themechanism for pulling out the loop, through the meshes of the net sheetsto be jointed; a mechanism for the expansion of the loop taken from themechanism for loop threading-through; and a mechanism for tightening theknot formed as a result of drawing said shuttle through said loop.

It is expedient that the mechanism for pulling out the thread loop fromthe shuttle comprises a rod with a hook cantilevered on the end of ashaft installed in a bearing, while the opposite end of said shaft andits bearing be connected by a system of levers and roller pins to camdrums which set the rod with the hook in swinging motion.

According to the preferable type of embodiment, the mechanism forthreading the loop through the net meshes comprises a needle with a hookand a clip for gripping the thread, said needle being fastened to a rodconnected by a system of levers, a link, shaft and roller pin to the camdrum which causes the rod with the needle to reciprocate.

The mechanism for the expansion of the loop and its removal from theneedle of the mechanism for threading the loop through the net meshescan have the shape of a curved rod with a pointed end and a shank, saidrod being cantilevered on a shaft mounted in a bearing, said shaft beingconnected by a system of levers to a roller pin which interacts with aslot of the cam drum, said drum setting said lever carrying said curvedrod in swinging motion, while reciprocation of said shaft is ensured dueto that the bearing interacts through the lever and roller pin with theother slot ofsaid cam drum.

According to the preferable type of embodiment of the mechanism for knottightening, said mechanism may comprise a rod with a hook cantileveredto the end of the shaft, the opposite end of said shaft being connectedby means of a system of levers, shaft and link to the roller pin whichinteracts with the slot of the cam drum which ensures swinging motion ofthe lever with the hook.

The machine according to this invention preferably comprises a devicefor feeding the net sheets in the process of their sewing together, saiddevice comprising two operatively associated combs and a holddown board.One of the combs is made fast to a slide block reciprocatable in thehorizontal and vertical planes, while the other comb and holddown boardare reciprocatingly mounted on rods.

The specific features and advantages of this invention will appear morecompletely from the following description of a typical embodimentthereof which is given by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic "views diagrammatically showing the methodof sewing net sheets together according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a machine for sewing net sheets togetheraccording to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mechanism for pulling out the loopfrom the shuttle according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanism for threading the loopthrough the meshes of the net sheets according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mechanism for the expansion of theloop and its removal from the needle according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mechanism for tightening the knotaccording to this invention; and

FIGS. 8-13 are diagrammatic illustrations showing the sewing of the netsheets together by the machine of the present invention.

The proposed method of sewing together net sheets with the nonlooseningseam is effected manually in the following way. A certain length ofthread 1 (FIG. 1) from shuttle 2 is pulled through the meshes 4 of thenet sheet in the shape of a loop 3 with the aid of hook 5 after whichthe shuttle 2 with the thread 1 is drawn through said loop 3 (FIG. 2).

When it is desired to obtain a seam of extra-high strength, the loop canbe threaded through each pair of meshes of the net sheets being jointedseveral times in succession, while several rows of the meshes locatedalong each sheet edge can be taken up into the seam.

For effecting said method using a mechanical means, a machine for sewingtogether net sheets with a nonloosening seam is proposed herein, saidmachine being snotvn in FIGS.

The machine for effecting the herein proposed method of sewing togethernet sheets with the nonloosening seam comprises the following mechanismskinematically connected by a common drive shuttle mechanism 1 of theshuttle (FIG. 3); a mechanism II for pulling out the loop (FIG. 4); amechanism III for threading the loop through the meshes of the netsheets (FIG. 5); a mechanism IV for the expansion of the loop (FIG. 6);a mechanism V for tightening the knot (FIG. 7); a device for feeding thenet sheets (FIG. 3); a programmer (FIG. 3) and a machine drive (FIG. 3).

The shuttle mechanism comprises shuttle 6 with spool 7 (FIG. 3), saidshuttle being set in motion by shuttle carrier 8 mounted on verticalshaft 9 and connected through gears 10 and 11 to vertical shaft 12 ofthe machine.

The shuttle mechanism I is intended to draw the thread spool through theloop formed by the same thread.

The mechanism II for pulling out the thread loop is designed to form aloop from the jointing thread, to transfer said loop to the mechanismfor threading the loop through the net meshes, and to pull out the loopafter the shuttle 6 passes through it.

The mechanism 11 for pulling out the thread loop comprises rod 13 (FIG.4) with hook 14. The rod 13 is cantilevered on the end of shaft which ismounted in bearing 16. To ensure swinging motion of the rod 13 with thehook 14 in the bearing 16, the shaft 15 is connected through lever 17and link 18 to lever 19 which is fastened to the end of shaft 20, thelatter being in turn connected through lever 21 and roller pin 22 toslot 23 of cam drum 24 mounted on the main shaft 12.

The second swinging motion of the rod 13 with the hook 14 together withthe bearing 16 is effected through rocker arm 25, link 26, double-armlever 27 and roller pin 28 from slot 29 of cam drum 30.

The mechanism 111 for pulling the thread loop through the meshes of thenet sheet comprises needle 31 (FIG. 5) with hook 32 and clip 33, saidneedle being mounted on rod 34. The rod 34 is connected through pin 35carrying slide block 36, lever 37 and shaft 38 to lever 39. The lever 39in turn is connected through link 40 to lever 41 carrying roller pin 42in its middle part, said pin interacting with the slot 3 of cam drum 44located on the main shaft 12 and ensuring the reciprocation ofthe needle31.

The mechanism IV for the expansion of the loop and its removal from theneedle 31 comprises rod 45 (FIG. 6) having sharp point 46 and shank 47,said rod being cantilevered on shaft 49 installed in bearing 43.

To ensure swinging motion, the shaft 49 has a lever 50 with roller pin51, said lever interacting with slot 52 of lever 53. The opposite end ofthe lever 53 is fastened to shaft 54, while in its middle part there isa roller pin 55 interacting with slot 56 of cam drum 30.

To ensure reciprocation of the rod 45, the bearing 46 is made in theshape of a slide block movable along frame 57 with the aid of pin 58with slide block 59 interacting with slot 60 of lever 61 mounted on axle62 and carrying roller pin 63 in its middle part.

The pin 63 interacts with slot 64 of the cam drum 30 mounted on the mainshaft 12.

The mechanism V for tightening the knot (FIG. 7) comprises a rod 65 withhook 66. The rod 65 is cantilevered on the end of a shaft 67, while theopposite end of said shaft carries lever 68 which is connected by link69 to lever 70.

The lever 70 is fastened to the end of a shaft 71, while the oppositeend of shaft 71 carries lever 72 with roller pin 73 interacting withslot 74 of the cam drum 44 which is mounted on the main shaft 12.

The device for feeding the net sheets in the course of sewing together(FIG. 3) comprises lower comb 75 and upper comb 76 operativelyassociated with each other, and holddown board 77.

The lower comb 75 is constituted as a metal strip 78 with pins 79reciprocating in the horizontal and vertical planes. The comb 75 isfastened to a slide block 80 which is movable along a horizontal shaft81 and is driven by a connecting rod 82, one of its ends being hinged tothe slide block 80, and the opposite end, to lever 83 turnable on axle84. The lever 83 is hinged through link 85 to lever 86 which is held inposition by means ofa pin 89 interacting with slot 90 of the cam drum24.

In order to vary the horizontal stroke of the lower comb 75, the levers83 and 86 are provided with adjusting screws 91 and 92 which control theposition ofthe link 85 and, consequently, the stroke of the comb 75. Toensure reciprocation of the comb 75 in the vertical direction, thehorizontal shaft 81 is fastened on frame 93 which is movable on axes 94and 95 and which, through axle 96 with slide block 97, interacts withslots 98 of levers 99 and 100 made fast to the ends of shaft 101.Mounted on the shaft 101 is a lever 102 connected through link 103 torocker arm 104 carrying axle 105 in its middle part, said axle beingfastened to the end of a lever 106. The opposite end of the rocker arm104 carries a roller pin 107 interacting with a slot 108 ofin the camdrum 44.

The upper comb 75 is intended to retain the meshes of the net sheetsbeing sewn together in a spreadout condition while the lower comb 75 isin movement. The upper comb 76 is fastened to rod 109 which isconnected, through pin 110 having slide block 111, to slot 112 ofspring-loaded lever 113. The lever 113 is mounted on shaft 114 whoseopposite end carries lever 115 which interacts through pin 116 havingslide block 117 with slot 118 of fork 119 hinged to the lever 99 whichsets said fork in motion.

The holddown board 77 is intended to hold down and retain the meshes ofthe net sheets being sewn together during the time of scam formation.The holddown board has a longitudinal slot 120 for the passage of thepins of the combs 75 and 76, and reciprocates in the vertical plane. Theholddown board is mounted on rod 121 connected to slot 122 of aspring-loaded lever 123. The lever 123 is fastened on a shaft 124connected to lever 125 which interacts through pin 126 having a slideblock (not shown in the drawing) with slot 127 of a fork 128 hinged tothe lever 100 which sets said fork in motion.

The programmer is designed to ensure the formation of one or two knotsof the jointing thread for each pair of the net meshes, also to ensurecorrect intermitting of double and single knots in the specifiedsequence, by causing an idle stroke of the lower comb 75 after a certainnumber of working strokes thereof. This is achieved by the constructionwherein the axle 105 of the rocker arm 104 is fastened to the end of thelever 106 whose opposite end is fastened to shaft 129, the opposite endof said shaft carrying lever 130. One end of said lever bears againstspring 131 while its opposite end has an axle 132 with roller 133. Theroller interacts with one of the programmer discs 134.

The programmer discs 134 are fitted on shaft 135 and are movabletherealong by means of handle 136. Thrust on the shaft 135 is a gear 137which meshes with a gear 138 fitted on shaft 139 which mounts Maltesecross 140. Said Maltese cross is set in intermittent rotary motion fromcrank 141 through roller pin 142.

The mechanisms of the machine are driven from an electric motor 143through a V-belt drive 144, a train of gears 145, 146, 147 and 148, thetorque being transmitted to the main shaft 12 which mounts the cam drums24, 30 and 44.

The sewing together of the net sheets with the aid of the machineproposed herein is accomplished in the following way.

The net sheets with the spreadout edges placed one over the other aremanually delivered to the device for feeding the net sheets. The spool 7with the jointing thread 1 is placed into the shuttle 6 (FIG. 8), theend of said thread being pulled out and retained manually until themachine forms a knot on the first meshes of the net sheets being sewntogether. Upon starting of the electric motor 143, the motion istransmitted to the main shaft 12. As a result of shaft rotation, thehook 14 catches the thread 1 and, while turning, places said thread onthe hook 32 of the needle 31. At this moment the hook 66 loosens thethread 1. Next the needle 31 pulls the loop of the thread 1 through themeshes 4 of the net sheets being jointed (FIG. 9).

At this stage the sharp point 46 of the rod 45 enters the loop and,while turning, spreads out said loop, into which the nose of the shuttle6 is now inserted.

In order to release the thread 1 from the hook 33 of the needle 31, thelatter is caused to move upwards, so that the shank 47 removes the loopfrom the hook 32 (FIG. 10).

In order to form a knot the shuttle 6, while rotating, guides the loopof the jointing thread 1 about itself, while the hook 14 loosens thethread (FIG. 11). The thread having passed around the shuttle 6, thehook l4 pulls out the loop taken from the shuttle 6 (FIG. 12).

Next the hook 66 tightens the knot by making a swinging motion about itsaxis (FIG. 13).

After tightening the knot, the pins 79 of the lower comb 75 move thenext pair of meshes of the net sheets being sewn together into theposition for knot formation, and the entire cycle takes place again, asdescribed above.

Each complete turn of the main shaft 12 ensures the formation ofoneknot.

In order to connect the meshes of the net sheets by a double knot thelower comb 75 is caused to make an idle stroke consisting in that thelower comb 75, while moving, passes below comprising first pulling acertain length of the thread from the shuttle through the meshes of boththe net sheets in the form of a loop, and then drawing the shuttle withthe wound-on thread through said loop.

2. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 wherein said meshes of the net sheetsare in confronting relation and the shuttle traverses said net sheetsboth along the length of the seam and on opposite sides thereof inalternation during the sewing.

1. A method of sewing together meshes of net sheets with a nonlooseningseam using a thread and a shuttle, said method comprising first pullinga certain length of the thread from the shuttle through the meshes ofboth the net sheets in the form of a loop, and then drawing the shuttlewith the wound-on thread through said loop.
 2. A method as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said meshes of the net sheets are in confrontingrelation and the shuttle traverses said net sheets both along the lengthof the seam and on opposite sides thereof in alternation during thesewing.